What changes are expected in Pakistan’s passport policy for married women?

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has established a committee to overhaul the passport policy regarding the requirement for “married women” to indicate their husband’s name rather than their father’s on their passports.

During an interview with a private news channel, Director General of Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Kazi, disclosed this information, stating that the committee would propose solutions to address disparities between the policies of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the passport issuing authority concerning married women.

Currently, under the existing policy, the passports of married women display the name of their husband instead of their father. Many individuals have voiced objections regarding the discrepancies in the policies of both institutions, labeling it as discrimination against women.

The DG Passport highlighted that women encounter difficulties when their passports feature their father’s name instead of their husband’s, particularly when traveling with their children. He affirmed that the policy will undergo revision to eliminate confusion within the system.

While he did not specify the anticipated changes in the policy, he indicated that a new policy would be adopted following the committee’s recommendations.